Semen analysis and Sperm count - What does it mean?
The Semen analysis in an important part of an infertility evaluation. In fact, many doctors suggest to make the semenanalysis the very first infertility test.
About 30-40% of the time when a couple is infertile, there will be a "male factor" contributing to the problem. As part of the initial work-up of infertility, the couple is usually asked to submit "The Specimen", the male ejaculate, to a laboratory. The male partner is often asked to go to one of the local andrology labs (special lab that does this type of testing), or they may collect the ejaculate at home, but need to bring it in as soon as possible. A semen sample is obtained usually by masturbation and is given to the lab technician. The analysis of the semen tells the doctor important information about his fertility:
- The sperm volume - how much sperm is collected (less than 2 cc istoo low)
- The sperm concentration and count - how many sperm are present (Usually below 40-50 million (=oligospermia) is considered too low)
- The sperm mobility - how well the sperm swim
- The sperm morphology or shapes -how many sperm are normal v.s. abnormal
This information can then be used to determine if a urologist will need to be consulted for further testing of the man, or if additional fertility procedures such as intrauterine inseminations (IUI) will increase the chance of pregnancy.
RESULTS OF A NORMAL SEMEN ANALYSIS
- Volume (2-6 cc)
- Sperm Concentration (20-200 Million/cc or more than 40-50 Million total)
- Total Sperm Count (>=40/cc)
- % Molitity (>=50%)
- % Normal Morphology (>=30%)
- Color (Gray/Translucent)
- Coagulate (Yes)
- Liquify (Yes:<=30)
- Viscosity (1)
- pH (7.5-8.1)
- % of 3-4+ Forward Motile Sperms (>=50)
- Total Motile Sperm (>=20/cc)
- White Blood Cell Count (<=1)
- Agglutination
- Clumping Sperm-to-Sperm (0)
- Clumping Sperm-to-Round Cell (0)
Important facts:
- Some men with very low sperm counts can sometimes have children.
- Some men with normal sperm counts can be infertile.
What matters is not really how many or how fast they swim - but whether they can fertilize the female partner's eggs.
Sperm Analysis and Spermcount| | |
|---|
| Volume | 2.0 ml or more |
| pH | 7.2-8.0 |
| Sperm concentration | 20,000,000/ml or more |
| Motility | 50% or more with forward progression |
| Morphology | 30% or more normal forms (very lab-dependent) |
| Vitality | 75% or more live |
| White blood cells | Less than 1,000,000/ml |
| Normal Ranges for a Semen Analysis* | | Parameter | Normal Ranges | | Color | Gray/Transluscent | | Coagulate? | Yes | | Liquify? | Yes | | If yes, time in minutes | Less than or equal to 30 | | Volume (mL) | 2 to 6 | | Viscosity (1,2,3,4) | 1 | | pH | 7.5 to 8.1 | | % Motility | Greater than or equal to 50% | | % of 3-4 + Forward Motile Sperm | Greater than or equal to 50% | | Sperm Concentration (x 1 Million per mL) | 20-200 | | Total Sperm Count (x 1 Million per mL) | Greater than or equal to 40 | | Total Motile Sperm (x 1 Million per mL) | Greater than or equal to 20 | | White Blood Cells (x 1 Million per mL) | Less than or equal to 1 | | Agglutination (0,1,2,3) | . | | Clumping of sperm to sperm | 0 | | Clumping of sperm to round cells | 0 | | % Normal Morphology | Greater than or equal to 30% | | Penetrak Score (mm) | Greater than or equal to 30 | | | | mL = milliliter | | mm=millimeter | | | | | *Based on World Heath Organization criteria, 1992. Table excerpted from Berger, G.S., Goldstein, M., and Fuerst, M. (1995). The Couple's Guide to Fertility. New York: Doubleday |
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